This summer might be an indicator of what we can expect in coming decades as our planet reacts to climate change. How we adapt will be as important to our city as the ways we find to reduce our environmental impact.
As July’s Hurricane Hazel-like deluge illustrated, we need a climate adaptation strategy.
That’s what the 2008 city report Ahead Of The Storm: Preparing Toronto For Climate Change called for, although no further action has been taken. In fact, City Hall is taking exactly the opposite approach, with potentially serious consequences.
Declining water use by both residents and industry has cut water revenues by 10 per cent since 2005, despite the increase in condo development. Since Toronto Water’s operating and capital budgets are entirely funded by users, the result has been a $350 million shortfall in infrastructure upgrades in the last decade.
As a consequence, the department is scaling back investments in our first line of defence, the Wet Weather Flow Master Plan, which is designed to reduce the impact of runoff.
Two big projects will suffer most: naturalization of the Don River, with its planned flood-controlling marsh and large retention tanks to help contain runoff until it can be treated.
This reduction in infrastructure investment is only going to get worse, given the current administration’s aim to go back to 3 per cent annual increases in water rates from the current 9 per cent, starting in 2015. This would mean a significant cut in funding that’s been in place since 2005 – funding that, to put it in perspective, costs the average household an additional $30 to $40 per year.
Keeping annual water increases at 9 per cent would also help repair the damage done by storms, stop basement flooding and install systems to deal with things like algae blooms that come with rising temperatures.
The city needs to look at reinforcing physical infrastructure like bridges, and start giving consideration to projects like raising low-level rail tracks and highways to prevent flood damage. That’s in addition to transit system upgrades to protect subway stations from flooding.
On Queen West last Wednesday, August 14, a dance broke out celebrating the spirit of the Toronto blackout.
But a decade after that event, which knocked out power to 50 million people along the eastern seaboard, drastic action needs to be taken to make the grid more resilient in the face of climate change.
Toronto Hydro itself notes that almost 50 per cent of its equipment is nearing or past its useful life. In 2011, 40 per cent of power outages were attributable to outdated equipment.
The Ontario Energy Board, which is responsible for regulating electricity pricing, has rejected requests for rate increases to fund upgrades, citing the rising cost of electricity. The main issue isn’t power supply, but our antiquated system and obstacles to getting power to people. If higher rates are coming, there need to be programs to help low-income households.
The Tower Renewal program, now stalled, is a good example of how to improve energy efficiencies.
Expanding the deep lake water system that already cools many downtown buildings could also reduce pressure on the grid.
The city has looked responsibly at the reality of climate change and its effects, but we must now get serious about doing something about it or we’ll end up paying a much higher price in the long term.
Infrastructure index
$350 million Shortfall in funding for T.O. storm infrastructure over the last 10 years
$30-$40 What it would cost per household to make up that shortfall
40 Percentage of power outages that were attributable to outdated electrical equipment in 2011
50 Percentage of Toronto Hydro equipment at or past its usefulness
$856 million Cleanup costs associated with last month’s flooding
news@nowtoronto.com | @adam_giambrone
